Category Archives: LIfe Lessons

A Rite of Passage

Posted on July 8, 2012 by russtowne

Beloved spent many of her formative years on a farm and knew what it was like to work hard. I chopped firewood for my grandparents who needed a lot of it as it was the only source of heat for … Continue reading →

Posted in Family "Fun", Growth/Learning, LIfe Lessons, Parenting, True Stories I've Written | Tagged beloved, big grin, Dog, hard work, knowing, lawns, mower, physical, physically, pride, proud, push mower, rite of passage, smile, son, sons | 6 Comments

That Which Lies Within

Posted on July 6, 2012 by russtowne

I read somewhere recently that life isn’t about finding yourself, it’s about creating yourself. While I like that saying a lot, and believe that is certainly true on some levels, I also believe that life is very much about finding … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundance, Attittude, Compassion, Healing, Inspiring, LIfe Lessons, Love, Making the World a Better Place, True Stories I've Written | Tagged awakenig, Caring, compassion, gentl touch, gentle, healing, help, Hope, kindess, kindness, learned, Love, shine, smile, smiles, spirit, support, touch, warmth | 10 Comments

Speak Softly and Carry a Big Heart

Posted on July 4, 2012 by russtowne

A friend who passed away several years ago was about 30 years older than me and lived large right up until his passing. He loved to surf and did so decades beyond when most people stop doing such strenuous activities. … Continue reading →

Posted in Attittude, Friendship, Gratitude, Growth/Learning, LIfe Lessons, Love, Making the World a Better Place, Quotes I Love, True Stories I've Written | Tagged better, big heart, carry a big heart, experience, Friend, heart, legacy, legacy of love, Life, man, richer, speak softly, surf, surfer, touched | 21 Comments

Knowing What I Need

Posted on July 4, 2012 by russtowne

There was a time when I expected Beloved to know what I needed and to provide it. There were multiple problems with that approach. First, I’ve come to learn that expectations are the cause of much suffering. When I reduce … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Family "Fun", Growth/Learning, LIfe Lessons, Love, True Stories I've Written | Tagged amazing, amazingly, approach, beloved, choice, commitment, critical needs, happy, marriage, options, simple, understand, wife, world | 8 Comments

The Kind Road

Posted on July 4, 2012 by russtowne

One of my goals with this blog is that when writing a humorous post I want to always take the kind road, mostly laughing at myself (I can take it), while elevating and inspiring others. I also tend to follow … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Discipline & Consequences, Growth/Learning, Humor, Inspiring, LIfe Lessons, Love, Making the World a Better Place, Observations, Praise, Quotes I Love | Tagged 4th of July, Ben Franklin, Benjamin Franklin, elevate, Fourth of July, humor, humorous, July 4th, Mikey's Funnies, understand, wise | 4 Comments

The Star

Posted on July 2, 2012 by russtowne

(This a slightly changed re-post of a post I believe I last published in 2010.) At the top of our Christmas tree each year proudly sits an unusual star. It is made out of cardboard and covered with aluminum foil … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundance, Attittude, Creativity, Family "Fun", Generosity, Gratitude, LIfe Lessons, Love, True Stories I've Written | Tagged beloved, Christmas tree, girl, lady, ornaments, sleep, sleeping bag, star, tree, wife, woman, young | 12 Comments

My Views On the Risk of Someone Stealing My Work

Posted on July 2, 2012 by russtowne

I’m encouraging someone I love who has dabbled with writing to begin blogging. He asked whether I was afraid someone would steal my work. I wanted to share with you my reply: “Not particularly. I view it as a pain-to-gain … Continue reading →

Posted in Attittude, LIfe Lessons, Optimism | Tagged blog, blogging, blogoshpere, good, Love, stories, story, support, writer, writers, writing | 8 Comments

Vulnerability

Posted on June 29, 2012 by russtowne

I just read another great post from “I Stop For Sufferring”. http://istopforsuffering.wordpress.com/2012/06/01/love-and-vulnerability-3/#comment-2178 This one dealt with love and vulnerability. I highly recommned that you check it out. I wrote the following as a comment to her post and decided I … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundance, Choices, Courage, Growth/Learning, LIfe Lessons, Love, Observations | Tagged appreciation, connect, connected, connectness, I Stop For Suffering, kindness, Love, vulnerability, vulnerable | 1 Comment

Investing In My Relationships along the Way Or Paying For It BIG TIME Later

Posted on June 28, 2012 by russtowne

In my recent post, “Blowing the Dust Away” I used the phrase, “…investing time together” A reader commented in part, “I think investing in our valued relationships is a great way to put it.” (Thank you, Cathy!) That got me … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Friendship, Grandparenting & Grandkids, Growth/Learning, LIfe Lessons, Love, Observations, Parenting | Tagged attention, Caring, children, commitment, Family, focus, friends, great, Important, investing, Love, loving, Money, parenting, raising, Relationships, romantic | 4 Comments

The Day My Beloved Got Me Fired

Posted on June 27, 2012 by russtowne

(A re-post from 2010 to share with newer readers) Back in 1980, several months after we got married, my Beloved got me fired. It all began when I had to take time off from work due to the simultaneous removal … Continue reading →